Chapter 1. General Provisions And Definitions of California Public Utilities Code >> Division 10. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 1.

This part is known and may be cited as the "San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District Act."

This part is in furtherance of the declared policy of the State to stimulate the maximum use of the harbor in San Francisco Bay in order to foster and develop international and other trade for the benefit of the entire State. The geographical situation of San Francisco Bay, which makes it one of the finest harbors in the world, at the same time prevents the full utilization of the harbor by acting as a physical barrier to a system of rapid and effective transportation between the various portions of the metropolitan area surrounding the Bay. Only a specially created district can freely operate in the eighty-four (84) individual units of county, city and county, and city governments located in this area. Because of the unique problems presented by the area it is necessary that this legislation be applicable solely to such area to insure necessary rapid transit service. Extensive studies and surveys have been made at considerable cost in public funds to determine whether or not interurban mass rapid transit would be a feasible instrument for reducing existing and future interurban travel problems and for relieving existing and future traffic congestion on freeways, streets and highways. These surveys have produced convincing evidence that the prosperity of the entire Bay area will depend upon the preservation and enhancement of its urban centers and subcenters; and that sustaining these centers and subcenters as concentrations of employment, commerce, and culture, in turn will depend upon providing an adequate, modern, interurban mass rapid transit system. The studies have also established that to provide a standard of service which will meet the needs of the public, the interurban system must be effectively separated from conflicting traffic either by grade separation of intersecting streets, roads, and highways, or by other equally effective means; and, to the extent practicable, its service must be coordinated with that of other transit facilities in the areas served.

The part shall be liberally construed to carry out the objects and purposes and the declared policy of the State of California as in this part set forth.

Unless the context otherwise requires, the provisions of this chapter govern the construction of this part.

"District" as used in this part, means the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District.

"San Francisco Bay area," as used in this part, means the Counties of San Francisco, Marin, Sonoma, Napa, Solano, Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara and San Mateo.

"Rapid transit," as used in this part, means the transportation of passengers and their incidental baggage by any means.

For the purpose of establishing the bonded debt limit of the district, "taxable property," as used in this part, shall not include solvent credits.

"Board of supervisors," as used in this part, means the board of supervisors of a county in the San Francisco Bay area.

"Board of directors," "board," or "directors," as used in this part, means the board of directors of the district.

"Public agency," as used in this part, includes the State of California, and any county, city and county, city, district, or other political subdivision or public entity of, or organized under the laws of, this State.